Sadiron lift



Jan. 5, 1954 l. JEPsoN 2,664,655

SADIRONLIFT Filed May 19, 194s 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIGI V Q n INVENTOR. BY c @KA y @LA/0&0(

ATTORNEYS.

l. JEPSON SADIRON LIFT Jan. 5, 1954 Filed May 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 SADIRON LIFT Ivar Jepson, Oak Park, Ill., assigner to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 19, 1948, Serial No. 28,018

Claims. (Cl. 38-79) This invention relates to an improved mechanism for supporting a flatiron above a work-holding surface, such as an ironing board, whenever the iron is not in use. In certain types of atirons it is the usual practice to set the iron up on its rear end on the ironing board when the ironing operation is temporarily stopped. In certain other types the iron is tipped over on its side. This practice is objectionable in several respects in that it causes wear and strain on the cord which is twisted more than 90 from its normal position; it exposes the entire heating surface of the sole plate so that it may be brushed against by the users arm; and this 11p-ended position is relatively unstable whereby the iron may fall off the ironing board, thus presenting a further hazard especially to small children. Furthermore, cer tain types of steam irons cannot be up-ended or rolled over on their side without creating an undesirable condition inthe water reservoir which should preferably be maintained in a level condition. It is preferable, therefore, that the iron not be tipped in the out-of-use position. Accordingly', a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a novel atiron support which is simple, compact, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which positively maintains the iron supported in a preselected position spaced above the working surface.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in connection with the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of a flatiron made in accordance with the present invention showing thev supporting levers in an extended position to support the iron above the ironing surface;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the flatiron shown in Figure l;

Fig. 3 is a cut-away top view of the iron showing a top view of the supporting levers in their retracted positions;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view taken alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and showing Athe supporting levers in both extended and retracted positions;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a llatviron comprising a body generally designated I and a handle 2 fixedly y'carrying the heat regulating control wheel 3 of secured thereto, the latter conventional construction. It is to be understood that the iron is provided with a heat control mechanism as well as electrical leads; however, they have been omitted frorn the drawings to show the present invention more clearly.

The body I includes the usual sole plate 4 and cover 6 which in the present instance extends beyond the rear of the sole plate to provide a rearwardly extending hood 1 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. In this instance the sole plate 4 is a composite structure comprising the outer plate 8, inner plate 9, and heating element II interposed therebetween.

One aspect of the invention is concerned with novel means for maintaining the iron in spaced relation with the work piece when the iron is not in use, that automatically moves into a supporting position through the action of gravity when the iron is lifted vertically above the work piece and that returns to a retracted position due to the weight of the iron when the iron is moved forward from its supported position as in the normal ironing operation. Three supporting levers are employed in this modification for effecting the foregoing. The levers are conveniently and effectively spaced with respect to the iron by disposing one of the levers or iron supportsV I2 in a sole plate recess I3 disposedat a forward central position on the bottom of the iron and disposing two levers I4 in spaced relation mounted in suitable recesses formed at the rear of the iron.

The mounting for the levers I4 includes a bracket I6 having a generally L-shaped cross section secured to the hood 'I as by a rivet Il. To position the bracket I6 and provide additional support therefor its inturned ilange I8 engages the extreme rear end of the hood i and its upstanding portion I9 abuts against the wall 2I at the rear of the body I. Spaced apertures 22 permitting the passage of tne support levers lli are formed in the bottom portion 23 of the bracket I6. These apertures in eiiect dei-lne the recesses lor the levers I4. On each side of each aperture is an inverted U-shaped bracket 24 secured to the bottom 23 as by welding and shaped to receive the erios of a pin 26 extending across the respective apertures. The pins 2B provide a pivot axis for the levers I4 which are mounted thereon. The pins 26 are dimensioned so that the levers I4 are freely movable relative to the .pins 26 between a retracted position in which the levers I4 are received under the hood 'I as shown in Fig. 4 and an extendedv position in which the levers I4 extend downwardly from the sole plate 4 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4 to support the iron.

The forward lever I2 is also mounted for free The latter is secured in p 'ofsiiiionA by lascrew 133 received in a boss 32 projecting upwardly lfrom the inner plate 9 adjacent the forward end of the recess I3.

The levers I2 and I4 in this instance are iden-` tical in size and shape so that when the ironiis in a supportedM position the bottom surface of tlescie'plate f4' is substantially paraliei` rela-- "t with 'a vvbk "Surface 34-Sl1'chas aipec'e' l'0f fabric disposed @man ironing beard. where "desire thier-dimensions of eithei tlieifronti or rear suppcrt'ing `levers may jb'e "varied to -'vary 2the 'tangle ofrep'os'e" ofbodywith' respect tothe' work ni'g surface 34"'vvhh the ii'onis in-a supposition.V

VAs shownin'i'igsdand Githefsupporting levers vI 2; and I f4 are 'generally triangular'v shaped and are 'mounted 'so thatthepi'votf pins 2'8" andl respectively projectth'rogh ap'e'rti'ires in -the levers locatedv at the Aflower"forward 'corner'of r'cach Ylever. `This `cor'istruction provides that "v'vhen'ftliey ir'on isi raised verticallyV from` the work `sur`fa`cef34 the'freeends 36 :off the -leversfare 'pulled do'vv'rivvardlya'under'v the Kini-luence yof gravity toY a position `forward of'a vertcaliplane passing "Il'i'o'u'gli 'the'lpivotal axis' of each lever. This fposition ofthe levers is shown-by the dotted lines "iiiFigF. f 'Inl this instance the" vforward Inoveiifentof *theA lever I2'is Vlimited by-engagernent :of theleverwith the' manned end' 31er the 'sole plate" recess 13- and -thef :forward `movemeintY Vof 'lvers with" 'the rear'V iid 38'of-the'- sole plate? 4.

"Since the "levers I2 andfld are urged downfwaijdlybygravity"to the' supportingf position `vwhen their'onfis raised above theworli'siirface acabe' levers ofcoursemn bef urgeddownwai-eiy during the ironing` operatin'so as to press lightin' either afforwardiof a b'a'cm'vardy movement of "or Nformed as^- a convex surface.

necessary to f raise vthe 'iron verticallyf above the work surface 34. 'This permitsthe-levers i2 and I4Lrto swinglzin a'clockwise direction about their respective y'pivot 'aXesby 'the action foffgrav-ity 'until Vthe levers"` assume the positions -showny by themdottedlines''in Fig. 4. The iron is fthen "lowerednfto 'the' Work vsurface 34y `and is sup 4lported a level" positionv at a `uniform height above thewrksuface '34. -In`this positionthe 'Weight 'of the ironlpresses' the levers I2A and I4 tinto engagement' With thec end 3'! (of the`lrec`ess 4 spectively. The free ends 36 of the levers are disposed forwardly of a vertical plane passing through the respective pivotal axes so that in effect the levers are in an overcenter position and the weight of the iron in eifect locks the levers in this position. Subsequently when it is desired to continue the ironing operation the handle 'is fgraspe'jd by the operator .andthe iron Ais pushed forward. This causes the .levers I2 and I4 to rotate in a oounterclockwise direction j'about their pivotal axes beyond the position in A-whiclfi the pivot pins 28 and 26 and free ends 3'6 Vofl the respective levers are in vertical alinement. `The iron, .due to its own weight, then idrops toits normal ironing position as shown .a lself-supporting .position withgthesole plate 4 out vof kcontactwith the workingsurface K.3.4. Moreover, when -Vitis desired. to lres'uli'ie use yoi the iron it is only necessary rforthe :operator to. graspI the handlend push the iron lforvv'ard as is done inthe normal ironing operation.

ltWill be apparent to ,those skilled l,inttleart that` the present ginvention isnot limited .to ...the particular .construction shownfbut `that changes and modications may A be made without. departingr from the-spirit andscope ofthe'presentinvcntioil.- and itisl aimed' ill-the appended 4claixiifs to Coverall such changesv and modifications.

fIclaim: n

i.; In combination-.aatiron fhavingsabody formed with. a fp lllrality-y o f gdpwnwardly facing recesses on its-` bottoni ironing siunjface..aplurality of ironfsupports 'disposedrespectively in said'v recesses, pivotal means mountedr on said.. bodyfadjacent the corresponding jendgoffeahofsaid recesses and-pvotally supporting' onezendjpf .the supports at =said-V correspondingfends. (of: each-3 of saidl recesses, whereby saidfsupports ares-.freely pivotal about said .pivotalman .i between-.a first limit f position.- in which said supports `are disposed wholly v within said. recesses. and a.-sec .ond ,limit I position which said supports .depend below said` ironing. surfer-cef abutmentfirneans foneach of; said lsnpiJorts disposed: at .the ends of;sa d 11ecesses*V adjacent-paid :pivotal imeanagsaidabutment-r means ybeing; :engagealole.- by .said ysiimzuorts to.l dene said Vvsecond limit position vof: each; of said suppo1ts,-saidabutmentjmeansfforgsaid supfport being' located relative'to. said.` associatnedjI p ivot'al means' -todefine- Vsaid second limitl position Ito'ffone side 4of-avertical .plane passing through the" pivotalV axis of @saidv associated; pivotal-means whereby `fthe- .vi/eight of i.said.latiron :holdsssaid supports against said abutment meansand.said

VSupports f positively 1 mantainv'thelnoning. surface -of said atiron. above a: work: surfaceaengagedby said supports. 2. The combinationgsetforth v.in..claim..1.y in

Which-the-downwardly facingnsides ofsaidsupports,`l wheirdisposed in `said recessesirr. said first limit position define a oonvexsfs'urface between the iUnmounted;and lfree SndSf thereof A to facili-tate the Aends of .saidf recessestoward the-.forward-end of `saidfiiatiron.

4. The' combination setwforthjn vivclaim `1...in

j which :each 'of 2 said supp ortsnis moved Ltoi theside fof averticalfr-planej passing. .through f the pivotal axis of said associated pivotal means toward the forward end of said fiatiron relative to said recesses and said supports are moved to their retracted positions within said recesses from their second limit positions solely by the forward movement of said atiron while the free ends of said supports engage said work surface whereby the free ends of said supports move to the other side of the vertical planes passing through the pivotal axes of 'the respective supports and the weight of the atiron automatically forces said supports into their respective recesses.

5. A atiron comprising a body having an ironing surface and a handle for manipulating said fiatiron, a downwardly facing recess in said ironing surface, a support, pivot means for pivotally mounting one end of said support within one end of said recess, said support and recess being so dimensioned that the free end of said support may be swung about the pivotal axis of said pivot means to a position wholly disposed within said recess, said pivot means being so disposed relative to said support that the force of gravity acting on said support moves said support out of said recess when said flatiron is lifted above ak surface engageable by said ironing surface, an abutment on said body engageable by said supi port and limiting the maximum movement of said `;-"support out of said recess to a position Where said support extends below said ironing surface, said abutment being disposed to limit the movemerit of said support beyond avertical plane passing through the pivotal axis of said pivot means whereby the weight of said fiatiron holds said support against said abutmentand the free end-.of said support, upon engaging a suitable supporting surface, holds said atiron with said ironing surface above said supporting surface. IVAR JEPSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

